Straight bar knitting machine



Nov. 8, 1955 K- w. WICKARDT 2,722,315

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 7, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l KURTW/LL/ W/C/(APDT Inventor A Home y Nov. 8, 1955 K. w. WICKARDT 2,722,815

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 7, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 KURTW/LL/ W/C/OIPDT Inventor Attorney United States Patent STRAIGHT BARKNITTING MACHINE Kurt Willi Wickardt, Liverpool, England, assignor toHosemaster Machine Company Limited, a British com- P y ApplicationFebruary 7, 1955, Serial No. 486,467

Claims priority, application Great Britain February 12, 1954 8 Claims.(Cl. 66--110) The present invention refers to straight bar knittingmachines and more particularly to jack head assemblies for such knittingmachines.

During operation of conventional design of straight bar knittingmachines each jack sinker is moved forward between needles during thecoulier portion of each knitting cycle in order to measure apredetermined length of thread for the further formation of two loops.This forward movement of the sinkers occurs under the influence ofstriking jacks pivotally supported in jack heads and operated in thewell known manner by slurcocks or slurcams traversing along and parallelto the row of needles.

In their forward position the striking jacks are resiliently held byjack springs contacting rear extensions of said striking jacks.

Except for this forward movement of the sinkers to their forwardposition, all other necessary movements of the sinkers are controlled bythe catchbar, by which they are engaged after they have been brought totheir forward position.

The operation which has just been described has not been modified whenusing the jack head assembly constructed according to this invention.

What has been invented is a jack head assembly wherein the jack springbar and the jack springs are directly supported by or mounted inthe'jack head assembly.

Hitherto the jack springs have normally been supported by jack springbars which have been disposed separately from the jack heads in whichthe striking jacks are pivotally mounted, and the jack spring bars havebeen oscillated or rocked to render the jack springs operative andinoperative. The arrangement of the jack springs on a jack spring barseparate from the jack head which is so important to secure properoperation of the knitting machine leads to difficulties in setting eachjack spring correctly in relation to its corresponding striking jackparticularly because when the jack springs are mounted on a knittingmachine they are not readily accessible. These difficulties arise inpart from the fact that the striking jacks are assembled in the jackhead quite separately from the assembling of the jack springs in thejack spring bars and in part from the fact that when these twoassemblies are brought together in a machine difficulty is experiencedin obtaining the correct settings of the various structural elements.

Thus it is an object of the present invention to provide an improvedjack head assembly whereby the adjustment of the various parts duringand/or after assembly is facilitated.

According to the present invention a jack head assembly comprises aplurality of striking jacks alternating with jack walls and pivotallysupported on a jack rod carried in said jack walls, a plurality of jacksprings individually pivotally supported in said jack head assembly andarranged each to contact one of said striking jacks for resilientlyrestraining said striking jacks in their rear positions during the loopforming portion of each knitting cycle including the beginning of thecoulier portion of 2,7218% Patented Nov. 8, 1955 each knitting cycle andduring fashioning cycles, said plurality of jack springs resilientlyrestraining said striking jacks in their forward position after saidstriking jacks have been moved forward under the influence of a slurcamtraversing along and parallel to the row of needles during the coulierportion of each knitting cycle, and selectively operable means forurging each of the jack springs into engagement with the striking jacksto restrain movement of the striking jacks.

Thus by the present invention the striking jacks and jack springs can beassembled into a single structure externally of the machine and thecorrect setting of each jack spring in relation to its associatedstriking jack is greatly facilitated.

Preferably the jack springs are pivotally mounted on a shaft or jackspring rod which extends substantially par allel to the jack rod. Eachof the jack springs preferably includes a rigid portion comprising abearing for the jack spring and a portion adapted to contact theassociated striking jack, and a deflectable member or portion con nectedto the rigid portion.

A cam is preferably provided adapted to engage the deflectable membersor portions of all the jack springs in the jack head and operable tostress or release the deflectable members or portions to render the jacksprings respectively operable and inoperable. The jack spring operatingcam may be conveniently in the form of a rod from which a segment hasbeen removed and the jack walls are preferably apertured to receive thejack spring operating cam and also the jack rod and the jack spring rod.

In one embodiment of the invention a jack head assembly comprises amultitude of striking jacks, one for each sinker to be moved forward andbetween adjacent needles, arranged in said jack head alternating withjack wells. These striking jacks are pivotally supported on a jack headrod carried by said jack walls and arranged substantially parallel tothe row of needles. A multitude of jack springs, one for each strikingjack, are pivotally supported on a jack spring rod disposed in the jackhead substantially parallel to said jack head rod. They contact rearextensions of said striking jacks and rest with their deflectable endsagainst a jack spring operating cam arranged in the jack head andpivotally supported by said jack walls.

This jack spring operating cam is oscillated in timed relation to theperformance of the knitting machine by a cam attached to the cam shaftof the machine through a lever connection in a manner which is wellknown in the design of straight bar knitting machines in order to exerta pressure to the deflectable parts of the jack springs, and thus to therear extensions of the striking jacks, during the couliering portion ofeach knitting cycle to thereby hold the striking jacks resiliently intheir forward position in such a way that the striking jacks can movebackwards under any pressure exerted by the thread against therespective sinker but are brought forward into their position again assoon as such pressure is released. During the loop forming portion ofeach knitting cycle and during fashioning cycles the deflectable partsof the jack springs contact the low point of the jack spring operatingcam thereby holding said jack springs in light contact with the rearextensions of the striking jacks in order to prevent any unintendedforward movement of said striking jacks.

The present invention will now be further described by way of examplewith reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a cross-section through a jack head assembly with thecomponents in their relative positions prior to the commencement of thecouliering portion of a knitting cycle.

Fig. 2 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1 showing the components in theirrelative positions after the striking jacks have been moved into theirforward position under the influence of the slurcocks.

Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1 showing the components in theirrelative positions during the loop forming portion of a knitting cycleor during a fashion-. ing cycle.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of one form of a jack spring.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of another form of a jack spring, and

Fig. 6 is a cross-section through part of a straight bar knittingmachine embodying the present invention and from which certain partshave been omitted for the sake of clarity.

The same reference numerals have been applied in all drawings toidentify the same parts.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, striking jacks 1 arepivotally supported on a jack head rod 2, said striking jacksalternating with jack walls 3 which carry said jack head rod and aresupported on a jack head base 7 and held in position by a clamp 8.

Jack head raiis 4, 5 and 6 are arranged to hold jack walls 3 in theircorrect position and with their correct spacing. A multitude of jacksprings 10, one for each of the striking jacks are pivotally supportedon a jack spring rod 9 arranged substantially parallel to jack head rod2. Each jack spring 10 has a deflectable portion or member 12 whichcontacts a jack spring operating cam 13 which is pivotally arranged injack walls 3 substantially parallel to jack head rod 2 and jack springrod 9.

The relative disposition of the parts at the beginning of the coulierportion of each knitting cycle are indicated in Fig. 1 the deflectableportion 12 of each jack spring 10 is engaged by a high point of the jackspring operating cam 13 so that a contact portion 11 of jack spring 10is pressed against an upper edge 14 of a rear extension of theassociated striking jacks 1. This pressure of the jack springs 10exerted on striking jacks 1 urges the striking jacks 1 in ananti-clockwise direction, as indicated by arrow X in Fig. 1, thuspreventing any unintended movement of striking jacks 1 against the rearbutts of the jack sinkers. During the coulier portion of a knittingcycle striking jacks 1 are moved from their rear position 1a as shown inFig. 1 and indicated by broken lines in Fig. 2, into their forwardposition 1b, indicated by full lines in Fig. 2, under the influence ofthe slurcock moving along and parallel to the row of needles. Thecontact portions 11 of the jack springs 10 now contact lower edges 15 ofthe rear extensions of the striking jacks 1 and exert on striking jacks1 a force urging the striking jacks 1 in a clockwise direction asindicated by arrow Y in Fig. 2, to bring striking jacks 1 back intotheir forward position 1b after they have been moved slightly backwardunder the pressure of a thread against the throats of the jack sinkers.

Fig. 3 shows the various parts in their relative positions during theloop forming portion of each knitting cycle and during narrowing orfashioning cycles. The deflectable portions 12 of the jack springs 10contact a low point of the jack spring operating earn 13 which causescontact portions 11 of the jack springs 10 to contact the upper edges 14of the rear extensions of the striking jacks 1 with a very lightpressure thereby exerting on the striking jacks 1 a force in thedirection of arrow X in Fig. 1 thus restraining the striking jacks frombeing moved unintentionally forward towards the jack sinkers.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 4 which is a detail view of oneform of a jack spring according to the present invention, the jackspring 10v is pivotally supported on a jack spring rod 9. Thesubstantially rigid contact portion 11 of jack spring 9 is formed so asto be able to contact the rear extension of a striking jack. Thedeflectable portion 12 of jack spring 9 is pressed from its inoperativeposition 12a, shown in full lines, into its.

operative position 1212, shown in broken outlines, under the influenceof the jack spring operating cam. This form of jack spring is formedfrom the same material as a unitary whole.

Fig. 5 shows another form of a jack spring according to the presentinvention. In this form the jack spring consists of a rigid member 16which may be formed from strip or sheet material and which is providedwith a contact portion 17 and a deflectable member 18 of resilientmaterial, such as spring steel, solidly attached thereto. Thedefiectable member 18 can be moved upon operation of the jack springactuating cam from its inoperative position 18a shown in full lines,into its operative position 1812, shown in broken lines.

Referring now to Fig. 6 an angle rail 19 forming part of the frame of astraight bar knitting machine carries for each section a sinker head 20which slidably supports a plurality of jack sinkers 21 and dividingsinkers 22. The jack sinkers 21 and dividing sinkers 22 are movablehorizontally into the gaps between needles 24 which are arranged in aneedle bar 25 in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. Theforward movement of the jack sinkers 21 and dividing sinkers 22 islimited by a verge plate 23 fixed to the upper face of sinker head 20.The angle rail 19 also carries for each section a jack head assembly 26constructed as previously described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3. Aslur bar 27 which forms part of the frame of the knitting machineslidably supports one slide 28 for each section. The slides 28 areconnected to one another and to the well known drive means, not shown inthe drawing, by a slur drive bar 29. Each slide 28 carries a plate 30which is held thereon by a screw 31 and supports a slurcock 32.

During the couliering portion of each knitting cycle the slides 28 withthe slurcocks 32 are moved parallel to the row of needles and in eachsection the slurcock successively contacts with the rear edges of thestriking jacks 1, swinging the striking jacks 1 from their rearpositions 1a (Fig. 2) into their forward positions 1b, thus bringingtheir upper ends into contact with the rear faces of jack sinkers 21thereby moving said sinkers forward until such movement is limited byverge plate 23.

The jack spring operating cam 13 extends on one side or on either sidebeyond the end of the jack head 26 and carries a lever or levers 33,keyed to such extension or extensions of the cam, connected through alink or links 34 and pins 35, 36 to a lever or levers 37 keyed to ashaft 38 which is oscillatably supported in the frame of the knittingmachine. The shaft 38 carries one or more roller arms 39 attached toshaft 38 and each of said roller arms 39 carries a pin 40 on which issupported a roller orcam follower 41 urged by a spring into contact withone or the other of cams 42, 43. The cams 42 and 43 are in a well knownmanner attached to a cam shaft 44 rotatably and slidably supported inthe frame of the knitting machine. During knitting cycles the roller 41is in contact with the cam 42. The surface of cam 42 is shaped so as topress the high point of the jack spring operating cam 13 against thedeflectable portions of the jack springs. 10 during the coulier portionof a knitting cycle and to release the pressure of jack spring operatingcam 13 on the jack springs 10 during the loop forming portion of aknitting cycle.

During fashioning cycles the cam shaft 44 is moved along its axis for anamount approximately equal to the width of a cam in a manner well knownin the design of straight bar knitting machines to thereby bring the cam43 in contact with the roller 41. The cam 43 is circularly shaped andholds the lever 33 in the position 33a, shown in broken lines in Fig. 6,while the low point of the jack spring operating cam 13 is in contactwith the jack springs 10. In this position the jack springs 10 exertonly a very light pressure on the upper edges 14 of the rear extensionsof the. striking jacks I, thus re.-

5 straining any unintended forward movement of said striking jacks.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In and for a straight bar knitting machine having at least a row ofneedles and a slurcam, a jack head assembly comprising a jack headhaving a plurality of spaced jack walls, a jack rod carried by said jackhead, a plurality of striking jacks each pivotally supported on saidjack rod for rocking movement and mounted between said jack walls, aplurality of jack springs each contacting one of said striking jacks,means carried by said jack walls for pivotally mounting each of saidjack springs in said jack head, and selectively operable means mountedon said jack head and connected to each of said jack springs for urgingeach of said jack springs into engagement with its correspondingstriking jack and thereby restraining said rocking movement thereof.

2. In and for a straight bar knitting machine having at least a row ofneedles and a slurcam, a jack head assembly comprising a jack headhaving a plurality of spaced jack Walls, a jack rod carried by said jackhead, a plurality of striking jacks each pivotally supported on saidjack rod for rocking movement and mounted between said jack walls, aplurality of jack springs each contacting one of said striking jacks, ajack spring rod extending substantially parallel to said jack rod andcarried by said jack head, each of said jack springs being individuallypivotally supported on said jack spring rod, and selectively operablemeans mounted on said jack head and connected to each of said jacksprings for urging each of said jack springs into engagement with itscorresponding striking jack and thereby restraining said rockingmovement thereof.

3. In and for a straight bar knitting machine having at least a row ofneedles and a slurcam, a jack head assembly comprising a jack headhaving a plurality of spaced jack Walls, a jack rod carried by said jackhead, a plurality of striking jacks each pivotally supported on saidjack rod for rocking movement and mounted between said jack walls, aplurality of jack springs each provided with a rigid portion including abearing for mounting and carrying said jack springs between said jackwalls and a head for contacting an adjacent striking jack, the remainderof each of said jack springs being deflectable, and selectively operablemeans mounted on said jack head and engaging said deflectable remainderof each of said jack springs thereby urging each of said jack springsinto engagement with its adjacent striking jack and thereby restrainingsaid rocking movement thereof.

4. In and for a straight bar knitting machine having at least a row ofneedles and a slurcam, a jack head assembly comprising a jack headhaving a plurality of spaced jack walls, support means provided on saidjack walls, a plurality of striking jacks each pivotally mounted on saidsupport means between said jack walls, a plurality of jack springs eachcarried by said support means and in opposed but contacting positionwith an adjacent striking jack, and selectively operable means mountedon said jack head and connected to each of said jack springs for urgingeach of said jack springs into engagement with its adjacent strikingjack and thereby restraining pivotal movement thereof.

5. In and for a straight bar knitting machine having at least a row ofneedles and a slurcam, a jack head assembly comprising a jack headhaving a plurality of spaced jack walls, a plurality of striking jackseach pivotally supported for rocking movement on said jack head andbetween said jack walls, a plurality of jack springs each provided witha rigid portion including a bearing for securing each of said jacksprings to and between said jack walls, said plurality of jack springseach being further provided with a head portion for contacting anadjacent striking jack, the remainder of each of said jack springs beingdeflectable, and selectively operable means mounted on said jack headand engaging said deflectable remainder of each of said jack springsthereby urging each of said jack springs into engagement with itsadjacent striking jack and thereby restraining said rocking movementthereof.

6. In and for a straight bar knitting machine having at least a row ofneedles and slurcam, a jack head assembly comprising a jack head havinga plurality of spaced jack walls, a jack rod carried by said jack head,a plurality of striking jacks each pivotally supported on said jack rodfor rocking movement between said jack walls, a jack spring rod carriedby said jack head substantially parallel to and spaced from said jackrod, a plurality of jack springs each pivotally mounted on said jack rodbetween said jack walls and in engagement with one of said stn'kingjacks, and selectively operable means carried by said jack walls forurging each of said jack springs into engagement with its correspondingstriking jack and thereby restraining said rocking movement thereof.

7. In and for a straight bar knitting machine having at least a row ofneedles and a slurcam, a jack head assembly comprising a plurality ofjack walls, a plurality of striking jacks, and a plurality of jacksprings, each of said jack walls being provided with two spacedapertures and with an opening between said pair of spaced apertures, ajack rod received in one of said spaced apertures in each of said jackwalls, each of said striking jacks being pivotally supported on saidjack rod, a jack spring rod received in said opening in each of saidjack walls, each of said jack springs being pivotally supported on saidjack spring rod with one end contacting one of said striking jacks, andselectively operable means mounted in the other of said spaced aperturesin each of said jack walls for holding said jack springs in contact withsaid striking jacks and thereby restraining movement of the latter.

8. In and for a straight bar knitting machine having at least a row ofneedles and a slurcam, and which comprises a jack head assemblyconstructed according to claim 7, each of said jack springs including acontact portion engageable with each of said striking jacks, and adeflectable remainder in engagement with said selectively operable meansfor movement from an inoperative position to an operative position uponoperation of said selectively operable means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,580,620 Vaclavik Ian. 1, 1952

